ForwardKeys has revealed that a series of announcements by governments of southern European countries has triggered an almost immediate jump in international flight bookings for Greece, Portugal and Spain in July and August.

To ensure security for both tourists and residents, all visitors to the islands will have to either present a negative Covid-19 test done within 72 hours prior to departure or be tested upon arrival.

The Algarve in southern Portugal has said it will be open for tourists this summer and seeks to welcome international visitors once travel restrictions are lifted.

In an attempt to turn the tide of negative news, the Portuguese tourism board has transformed the communication of the destination from #CantSkipPortugal into #CantSkipHope.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has saluted the Portuguese government for recognising the importance of the sector to the overall economy. Making tourism a priority has resulted in the sector growing 8.1 per cent in 2018, contributing €38.4 billion to the nation’s economy.

Algarve tourism chiefs have argued the region must diversify and build on its renowned beach holiday brand in order to benefit from the rapidly evolving global tourism market.